On This Day – 23rd February
It was on this day back in 2000 that football lost one of its true icons as Sir Stanley Matthews passed away at the age of 85.
Matthews was never booked in his 33 year long career and was the true model professional. Dubbed ‘The Wizard of the Dribble’, Matthews was playing First Division football until his 50th birthday, something that is unthinkable in today’s game.
Matthews only played for two clubs in his career, Blackpool and Stoke City. He also made 54 appearances for England, scoring 11 times. Matthews is still the record holder for oldest player to appear for England at the age of 42 years and 104 days old!
The 1953 FA Cup Final was known as the ‘Matthews Cup Final’ as he helped Blackpool come from behind to win 4-3 against Bolton Wanderers. It was the first time that he had lifted the Cup in his career.
He became Sir Stanley Matthews when he was knighted in 1965, the year he finally retired from the game.
Over 100,000 people lined the streets of Stoke for his funeral and his ashes were buried under the centre circle at Stoke City’s Brittania Stadium.
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